Alternative Life

by Matt Harris

  "You-iwfill-ishpeak-ito-iush-iwish-ireshpect,-idevfil-iwhore."-iThe-ione-iwho-istruck-iher-isaid,-isnarling.

  "You-ihavfe-ibeen-ishummoned-iby-izhe-ichieftain.-iYou-iwfill-isee-ihim-inow.-iMovfe."-iThe-iother-ignoll-isaid,-istepping-iin-ifront-iof-iher-iand-ipulling-ion-iher-ichain.-iWhen-iEleanor-idid-inot-iimmediately-imove,-ihe-ijerked-iit-iforcefully-icausing-iher-ito-istumble-iand-inearly-ifall-ionto-iher-iface.

  "I-ishaid-imovfe,-ifuckmeat!"-iThe-ignoll-isaid,-ipulling-iher-ichain-iagain-ias-ishe-itried-ito-iregain-iher-ifooting.-iThis-itime-ihe-idid-inot-iloosen-ithe-ipressure,-iand-iEleanor-ifound-iherself-ibeing-ihalf-dragged-iout-iof-iher-iroom.

  ###-iChapter-i58-i--iReflections

  After-ia-iwhile,-iRose-iand-iMadeleine-idrifted-ioff-ito-isleep,-ileaving-iJames-ialone-iwith-ihis-ithoughts-ias-ihe-ilay-ion-ihis-ibedroll-iand-ireflected-ion-ihis-itime-isince-ihis-iarrival-ito-ithis-inew-iworld.

  It-iwas-isurprising-ito-ihim-ihow-inatural-ihis-inew-ilife-iwas-ibeginning-ito-ifeel.-iHe-ihated-ito-iadmit-iit,-ibut-iFrumpkin-iwas-iright.-iHe-ihad-ialmost-icompletely-iforgotten-iabout-ianything-ielse-iabout-ihis-ilife-ifrom-ibefore.-iAnd-ihonestly,-ihe-iwas-iglad-ihe-ihad-iskipped-iout-ion-ioption-inumber-ione.-iCompared-ito-ithe-ilife-ihe-ihad-inow,-ieven-iin-ispite-iof-ithe-ithreats-ihe-ihad-iexperienced-iand-ithe-ipossible-iloss-iof-ione-iof-ihis-inew-ifriends,-ithe-iidea-iof-ilounging-iaround-iin-iparadise-iwithout-ia-icare-iin-ithe-iworld-isounded-ijust-iflat-iout-iboring.

  He-icouldn't-iafford-ito-iget-ito-icomfortable-ihere,-ithought.-iThe-ifact-ithat-iEleanor-iwas-icaptive-iby-ia-ibunch-iof-imonsters-iwas-itestament-ito-ithat.-iBut-imore-ithan-ithat,-ihe-ihad-ia-ijob-ito-ido.-iSomewhere-iin-ithis-iworld,-ithere-iwas-isomeone-iwho-ihad-ibeen-igiven-ithe-iexact-isame-iadvantages-ihe-ihad-ibeen.-iThe-ivillain-ihe-iwould-ifinally-ihave-ito-iovercome-ito-iwin.-iWas-ithis-ivillain-ihaving-ithe-isame-ichallenges-ihe-iwas?

  Either-iway,-iJames-iknew-ihe-ihad-ia-ilong-ilong-iway-ito-igo-ibefore-ihe-ihad-ia-ichance-iof-iwinning.-iAs-iit-istood-inow,-ihe-icould-ibarely-ibeat-isome-ignolls,-iand-icouldnt-ikeep-ihis-ifriend-isafe.

  He-ineeded-imore-iskills.-iAnd-ibetter-iequipment.-iAnd-imore-iallies.-iHe-isighed.-iAt-ithis-imoment,-iit-ifelt-ilike-ithis-iwas-igoing-ito-itake-iFOREVER.

  As-ihe-ilaid-ithere,-ihis-ithoughts-ifinally-idrifted-ito-iEleanor.-iHe-ihoped-ishe-iwas-istill-iokay.-iEvery-itime-ishe-icrossed-ihis-imind,-ihe-iwould-ikick-ihimself-ifor-iletting-ihimself-ilose-isight-iof-iher,-ieven-ifor-ia-imoment.-iHad-ithat-inot-ihappened,-ishe-iwould-iprobably-ibe-ithere-ion-iher-ibedroll-ilaying-ibeside-ihim-iat-ithis-ivery-imoment,-ibreathing-iher-iquiet-ibreaths-iin-isleep.

  "That's-iassuming-ithe-ishaman-ididn't-ijust-ikill-iyou-ioutright-iif-ithe-ifight-icontinued,"-iJames-ithought-igrimly.

  James-iknew-ithat-ihe-iwas-igoing-ito-ihave-ito-iface-ioff-iagainst-ithe-ishaman-iagain-iif-ihe-iwanted-ito-isave-iher.-iAnd-iconsidering-iit'd-ibeaten-iEllie-ihandily,-ibeating-ihim-iwas-igoing-ito-ibe-ino-ismall-ifeat.-iJames-ihonestly-iwasn't-ieven-isure-ihe-ihad-iit-iin-ihim-ito-ido-iit,-ieven-iwith-ithe-ihelp-iof-ithe-isisters-iand-ihis-iother-iwish-ibenefits.-iBut-ihe-ididn't-ihave-ia-ichoice.-iHe-ihad-ito-isave-iher.-iShe-iwas-ihis-ifriend.-iAnd-iit-iwas-ithe-iright-ithing-ito-ido.

  The-ifact-ihe-ialso-ifound-iher-iincredibly-istunning,-iand-ishe-iseemed-ito-iactually-ilike-ihim,-iabsolutely-ialso-ifactored-iin-ithere-isomewhere,-ithough-ihe-iwasn't-iready-ito-iadmit-ito-ihimself-ihow-imuch-iof-ia-ipart-ithose-ifeelings-iactually-iplayed-iinto-iit-iall.

  He-ifound-ihis-imind-iwanting-ito-islip-iinto-ifantasies-iabout-iher,-ibut-ihe-istopped-ihimself.-iThere-iwould-ibe-ia-itime-ifor-iindulging-ithose-ithoughts,-ibut-inow-iwas-imost-idefinitely-inot-ithe-iright-itime.-iAs-ihe-ipushed-ithem-iout-iof-ihis-imind,-ihowever,-ihe-ifound-ihis-imind-iflooded-iwith-inew-iimages.-iImages-iof-isomething-ihorrible-ihappening-ito-iher...-ithe-idogmen-itaking-iturns-ibeating-ior-iviolating-iher.-iHaving-ithem-iappear-iall-iat-ionce-imade-ihim-isimultaneously-inauseous-iand-ifurious.

  If-ithey-ilaid-ia-isingle-ifinger-ion-ithat-igirl's-ibody,-ihe'd-ifold-ievery-isingle-ione-iof-ithe-idog-faced-ibastards-iinside-iout-iand-iwear-itheir-ipelts-ifor-islippers.-iIt-ididn't-imatter-ito-ihim-iif-ihe-idied-iin-ithe-iprocess,-iso-ilong-ias-ishe-igot-iaway.-iHe'd-ialready-idied-ionce.-iDoing-iit-iagain-icouldn't-ibe-ithat-iterrible.

  It-itook-ihim-ia-ilong-itime-ito-ifinally-iclear-ihis-ihead-ienough-ito-icalm-idown,-iand-iwhen-ihe-ifinally-irelaxed,-isleep-iovertook-ihim-ialmost-iimmediately.

  ###-iChapter-i59-i--iRude-iawakening

  James-iwoke-iup-ito-ithe-ifeeling-irainfall-ion-ihis-iface.-iAs-ihe-iopened-ihis-ieyes-ito-ilook-iup,-ia-idroplet-ifell-iin-ito-ihis-iopen-ieye,-icausing-ihim-ito-icurse-iand-isnap-ihis-ieye-ishut.-iHe-isat-iup-iand-iscrambled-iout-iof-ihis-ibedroll,-igroping-iin-ithe-ipre-dawn-ilight-ifor-ihis-iboots.-iWhile-iit-iwasn't-ipouring,-ithe-irain-iwas-istrong-iand-isteady-ienough-ithat-ihe-icould-ialready-ifeel-ihis-iclothes-iand-ibedroll-igetting-isoaked.-iHe-iwasn't-ireally-isure-iwhat-ithey-iwere-igoing-ito-ido-iabout-ithe-iweather,-iconsidering-itheir-iwas-ino-ishelter-ianywhere-iclose,-ibut,-ihey,-ihe-iprobably-ineeded-ia-ishower-ianyways.

  As-ihe-ipulled-ion-ihis-iboots,-ihe-iheard-ia-igroan-iand-ia-imuttered-iobscenity-ias-iMadeleine-icame-ito-iand-isat-iup,-iher-ihair-ia-idisheveled-imess.

  "Great."-iShe-isaid,-isighing-iand-isliding-iout-iof-iher-ibedroll.

  Rose,-ihowever,-iseemed-icompletely-iunperturbed-iby-ithe-iwater-ifalling-ion-iher-iface-iand-iexposed-iarms,-iand-iwas-istill-isnoring-iquite-ipeacefully-ias-ithe-idrizzle-ifell-iaround-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem.-iAfter-ishe-ihad-iher-iboots-ion,-iMadeleine-iwalked-iover-iand-inudged-iRose's-ishoulder-iseveral-itimes-iuntil-iher-isister-isnorted-iawake.

  Rose's-ieyes-ifocused-iinto-ireality,-iand-ishe-iimmediately-ishut-iher-ieyes-iagain-iand-igroaned.-i"Ugh,-iI-iwasn't-iexpecting-ia-istorm."-iShe-isaid.

  "Me-ieither"-iJames-isaid,-irolling-iup-ihis-ibedroll.-iAs-ihe-idid-iso,-ihe-ifelt-ithe-iwater-isqueezing-iout-iof-iit-ilike-ia-isponge.-iUnless-ithey-ifound-isomewhere-iwarm-iand-idry-ito-ihang-itheir-irolls-iout-ifor-ithe-iday,-inext-inight's-isleep-iwas-igoing-ito-ibe-iabsolutely-imiserable.

  The-ithree-iof-ithem-iassembled-ithe-irest-iof-itheir-ibelongings,-iwhich-ithankfully-idid-inot-itake-ilong.-iOther-ithan-itheir-ibedrolls,-ithe-ionly-ithings-ithey'd-iused-ithe-inight-ibefore-ihad-ibeen-ifood-iand-ia-ifew-ipersonal-iitems-ithat-iweren't-iharmed-iby-ia-ilittle-iwetness,-ilike-itheir-iweapons.-iMercifully,-itheir-ipacks-iand-ibedroll-ibags-iwere-iboth-imade-iof-ioilcloth,-iso-inothing-ielse-iin-itheir-ipacks-ihad-ithus-ifar-igotten-iwet,-iand-itheir-ibedrolls-iwould-ibe-ishielded-ifrom-isoaking-ianything-ielse.-iSo-ithat-iwas-inice,-iat-ithe-ivery-ileast.-iAt-ileast-ithey-iwouldn't-ihave-ito-ieat-iwater-logged-ibread-ifor-ibreakfast.

  Packing-iup-ionly-itook-ia-ifew-iminutes,-ibut-iby-ithe-itime-ithey-iwere-ifinished,-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-iwere-isoaked-icompletely-ithrough,-iand-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-isince-ihe'd-imet-ithem,-iRose-iand-iMadeleine-iwere-ishivering.-iFor-ithe-ithird-itime-iin-ias-imany-idays,-iJames-ifound-ihimself-igrateful-ithat-ithe-icold-ididn't-ibother-ihim-ianymore.-iIf-iit-idid,-ithis-iwhole-iexperience-iwould-ibe-iabsolutely-imiserable.-iAs-iit-istood-inow,-ihe-ijust-ifelt-iwet,-iwhich-iwhile-iit-idefinitely-iwasn't-ithe-ibest-ifeeling-iin-ithe-iworld-iwas-icertainly-ia-iwhole-ilot-ibetter-ithan-ibeing-iwet-iand-ifreezing.-i

  James-ilooked-iout-itowards-ithe-ieastern-ihorizon-ifrom-ithe-itop-iof-itheir-ihill.-iThe-isun-iwould-ibe-iup-isoon,-ifrom-ithe-ilooks-iof-ithings.-iAnd-ihe-icould-ialready-isee-ithe-iend-iof-ithe-icloudline-ifar-iin-ithe-idistance.-iThere-iwas-ia-igood-ichance-ithey'd-iget-ilucky-iand-ithe-iweather-iwould-ibreak-ibefore-ithe-iday-ireally-igot-istarted.

  Looking-ito-ithe-ileft,-iJames-icould-ijust-imake-iout-ithe-idistant-iedge-iof-ia-iforest-iin-ithe-idim-imorning-ilight.-iThat's-iwhere-ithey-ineeded-ito-ibe-ibefore-ithe-iend-iof-ithe-iday.-iThen-iafter-ithat,-ithey-ihad-ia-iriver-ito-icross-iand-isome-imutant-idogmen-ito-ikill.-iNo-ibig-ideal.-iYup.-iNothing-iat-iall-ito-iworry-iabout.-iGood-ithing-ihe-iwas-iboth-iexhausted-iand-isoaking-iwet.-iThose-ignolls-iwere-igonna-ineed-ievery-iadvantage-ithey-icould-ig
et-iwhen-ihe-ifinally-igot-ihis-ihands-ion-ithem.

  James-iyawned,-iand-irubbed-ihis-iface-iwith-ihis-ihands-ifor-ia-imoment,-ibefore-ihe-idropped-ihis-ihands-iand-iturned-ito-ithe-iother-itwo.

  "Alright,-ilet's-iget-imoving."

  ###-iChapter-i60-i--iThe-iGnoll-iVillage

  Still-ireeling-ifrom-ithe-iblow-iof-ithe-ignoll's-iglaive,-iEleanor-ifound-iherself-isuddenly-ibeing-ihalf-walked,-ihalf-drug-idown-ia-inarrow,-idamp-icorridor,-ilit-ionly-ihere-iand-ithere-iby-ia-irough-imetal-itorch-isconce-inailed-iinto-ithe-iwall.-iA-itime-ior-itwo-ishe-istumbled,-ionly-ito-ifind-iherself-iforcefully-ijerked-iback-iupright-iwith-isuch-iaggression-ithat-ishe-iwas-iafraid-ithe-idog-man-iholding-ithe-ichain-iwould-ipull-iher-ihead-ioff.

  They-ilead-iher-ithrough-ithe-icorridor,-ithen-idown-ianother-iafter-ireaching-ia-ifor,-ithen-idown-ianother-ifork-iin-iquick-isuccession.-iThe-itunnels-iall-ilooked-iidentical-iand-iwere-iso-icrooked-iand-iwinding-ithat-iEleanor,-idespite-iher-ibest-iefforts,-icompletely-ilost-iany-isense-iof-idirection.

  Part-iof-iher-iwanted-ito-iwonder-iwhy-ishe-iwas-ieven-ibothering-itrying-ito-ifind-ia-iway-iout,-ibut-ithe-istubborn-ioptimist-iin-iher-istifled-ithat-ithinking-ialmost-iimmediately.-iEven-iif-ithe-iodds-iwere-igrim-ithat-ishe-iwould-iever-isee-iher-iway-iout-iof-ithis-ialive,-igiving-iup-iand-iaccepting-idefeat-iwas-iabsolutely-inot-ian-ioption.-iAs-isoon-ias-ishe-idid-ithat,-iany-ichance-ishe-ihad-iof-igetting-iaway-ior-imaking-iit-iuntil-ia-irescue-ivanished.

  No,-iit-iwas-ibetter-ito-ihold-ionto-ithat-iglimmer,-ino-imatter-ihow-istupid-ior-ifoolish-ior-inaïve-iit-iseemed-ito-ithe-irational-ipart-iof-iher-ibrain.-iIt-iwas-ithe-ionly-ithing-ishe-ihad-ithat-ino-ione-ielse-icould-itake-ifrom-iher,-ieven-iin-ithese-icircumstances.

  After-iseveral-imore-itwisting-itunnels,-ithe-ignolls-ifinally-iled-iher-ia-iledge-ithat-ioverhung-ia-ilarge,-iopen-icave-iroom.-iCompared-ito-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-iplace-ishe'd-iseen,-ithis-ifelt-idownright-imassive-iby-icomparison.-iThe-iceiling-ieasily-irose-ia-ihundred-ifeet-ior-imore-iabove,-iand-ithe-iample-itorchlight-iin-ithe-ispace-idanced-iand-irefracted-iacross-ithe-imyriad-istalactites-ithat-ihug-idown-ifrom-ithe-iroof.-iThe-iroom-iwas-iperhaps-itwice-ias-ilong-iand-iwide-ias-iit-iwas-itall,-iand-iseeing-iits-icontents-imade-iwhatever-ishred-iof-ihope-iEllie-iwas-iholding-ionto-iin-iher-ichest-icompletely-ivanish-iin-ian-iinstant.

  The-iroom-icontained-idozens-iof-iramshackle-itents-iand-ihuts,-iarranged-iin-isix-ior-iseven-irough-icircles,-iwith-icommon-iareas-ifeaturing-icooking-ifires,-itables,-iworkbenches,-iand-iall-iother-imanner-iof-iitems-inecessary-ifor-ia-ifunctioning-isociety.-iAnd-iamongst-ithese-icircles-iof-idwellings,-ishe-icould-isee-iwell-iover-ia-ihundred-imore-iof-ithe-idog-faced-icreatures-imilling-iabout-italking,-iworking,-ifeasting,-iand-ifighting.

  This-iwas-ian-ientire-icity,-iall-ikept-iwithin-ia-imassive-icave-inetwork.-iAnd-isomehting-itold-iher-ithis-iwasn't-ithe-ionly-ione-iof-ithese-ikinds-iof-igatherings-iin-ithis-icave.-iThe-isheer-iscale-iof-iit-imade-iher-idizzy.

  Before-ishe-icould-ireflect-iany-ilonger,-ithe-ignoll-iholding-ithe-ichain-ijerked-iit-iagain,-ipulling-iher-ibehind-ihim-idown-ithe-inarrow,-isloping-ipathway-ifrom-ithe-iledge-idown-ito-ithe-imain-iarea-ibelow.-iOnce-ithey-ireached-ithe-iground-ifloor,-ithey-iwent-istraight-iinto-ithe-imidst-iof-ithe-ivillage.

  As-iher-icaptors-iled-iher-iinto-ithe-imidst-iof-iall-iof-ithe-iother-ignolls,-ia-igood-imany-iof-ithem-istopped-iwhatever-ithey-iwere-idoing-ito-igawk-iat-iher-ias-ishe-iwas-iled-ipast-ithem.-iSome-ipointedly-ipaid-iher-ilittle-imind.-iOthers,-iseemingly-ithe-iyounger-imembers-iof-ithe-iclan,-ibased-ion-itheir-irelative-isize,-ihowled-iand-imade-ilewd-igestures-iat-iher,-iwhich-icaused-ithe-ibile-iin-ithe-iback-iof-iher-ithroat-ito-irise-iup-iin-ihorror.

  The-ignolls-ileading-iher-inavigated-ipast-ione-icircle,-ithen-ianother,-iuntil-ifinally-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-ireached-ia-ilarge-icorridor-iin-ithe-iback-iof-ithe-ichamber.-iOnce-ithey-ireached-iit,-itwo-imore-ignolls,-imuch-ilarger-ithan-ithe-irest,-iand-iwearing-ipolished-imetallic-iarmor-istepped-iout,-itheir-ipolearms-iheld-iat-ithe-iready.-i

  The-ignoll-iholding-iher-ichain-ibarked-isomething,-iand-igestured-ito-iher.-iThe-itwo-ilarge-ignolls-ilooked-iher-iup-iand-idown,-iand-iafter-ia-imoment,-istepped-ito-ithe-iside-iand-imotioned-ifor-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-ito-ienter.-i

  ###-iChapter-i61-i--iForest-iEdge

  By-imid-morning,-ithe-istorm-iclouds-ihad-icleared-iand-ithe-isun-ibroke-ithrough,-iits-iheat-irapidly-idrying-ithe-iground-iand-ithe-iclothes-ion-itheir-ibacks.-iThe-iresulting-iheat-ifrom-ithe-isunlight-iand-ithe-ievaporating-imoisture-ifrom-ithe-igrass-ibeneath-ihis-ifeet-imade-iJames-ibreak-iout-iinto-ia-ipouring-isweat,-isoon-iresoaking-ithe-ivery-isame-iclothes-ithat-ihad-ifinally-idried-iout-ia-ishort-itime-ibefore,-iand-imaking-ihim-iinfinitely-imore-imiserable-ithan-ibefore.-iIt-iwasn't-ilong-ibefore-ihe-ifound-ihimself-iwishing-ithe-irain-iwould-icome-iback.

  But-ihe-ihad-ino-isuch-iluck.-i

  Rose-iand-iMadeleine-ihowever-iseemed-icompletely-iunfazed-iby-ithe-iheat-iand-ihumidity,-iand-iwere-isoon-iin-imuch-ibetter-ispirits,-itheir-iclothes-iand-iskin-inaturally-icompletely-idry-iand-isweat-ifree.-iFigures.

  By-ithe-itime-ithe-isun-iwas-ifully-ioverhead,-ithey-ihad-icome-iupon-ia-icouple-itrees-inext-ito-ia-ismall-iwater-ipool.-iJames-iwondered-ito-ihimself-iif-iit-iwas-ia-iresult-iof-ithe-irain,-ibut-iits-isize-itold-ihim-iit-iprobably-iwasn't.-iMaybe-iit-iwas-ispring-fed-ifrom-iunderground-ior-isomething.-iHe-isuggested-ithey-ibreak-ifor-ilunch-iwhile-ithey-iwere-iclose-ito-isome-ishade-iand-isome-iwater.-iRose-iand-iMadeleine-iagreed,-iand-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-ipicked-itrees-ito-isit-iunder-iand-iset-iabout-igetting-isomething-ito-ieat.

  The-ithree-iof-ithem-ihad-idecided-ito-isplit-ithe-icontents-iof-iEleanor's-ipack-ibetween-ithem-iso-ithat-ione-iof-ithem-ididn't-iget-istuck-icarrying-ian-ientire-iextra-ipack-iby-ithemselves.-iMadeleine-ihad-igotten-iEleanor's-ispell-icomponents-iand-iunmentionables,-iRose-ihad-igotten-iher-iclothes-iand-ibasic-itravel-isupplies,-iand-ihe'd-igotten-iher-ifood-iand-iwaterskin.-iHe-ihad-iwanted-ito-iprotest-iwhen-ithey-iinsisted-ihe-itake-ithe-iheaviest-iload,-ibut-iwhen-iit-ioccurred-ito-ihim-ithat-ithe-ialternative-iwas-iasking-ia-igirl-ihalf-ihis-isize-ior-ia-igirl-icarrying-ia-ipack-imuch-ilarger-ithan-ihis-ito-itake-ithe-iheavier-iload,-ihe-ithought-ibetter-iof-iit.-iHe-iwasn't-ia-ihuge-ifan-iof-ibeing-itired,-isore,-iand-isweaty,-ibut-ibeing-icompletely-iemasculated-iby-ihis-iown-ilaziness-iand-iwimpiness-iseemed-ia-ifar-iworse-ialternative.

  The-ione-iadvantage-iof-icarrying-iEleanor's-ithings-iwas-ithat-ishe-iby-ifar-ihad-icarried-ithe-ibest-ifood-iamongst-ithe-ifour-iof-ithem,-ia-ifact-iof-iwhich-ihe-iwas-iall-ito-ihappy-ito-itake-iadvantage-iof-ias-ihe-isat-idown-ibeneath-ithe-ibough-iof-ia-ignarled-ioak-itree-iand-ipulled-iout-ithe-icheese-iand-idried-imeat-ishe'd-ibrought.

  After-ithey-ifinished-itheir-imeal,-iRose-iand-iMadeleine-ifilled-itheir-iwaterskins-ifrom-ithe-ipool,-iand-isuggested-ihe-ido-ithe-isame.-iHe-istarted-ito,-ibut-ithought-ibetter-iof-iit.-iThere-iwas-ino-itelling-iwhat-ikind-iof-ibacteria-imight-ibe-iin-iit,-iand-ihe-iwas-ialmost-iguaranteed-ito-inot-ibe-iimmune-ito-ithem.-iHe-iinstead-iopted-ifor-imagically-iconjuring-ia-ibunch-iof-iwater-iinto-itheir-icooking-ipot-iand-ifilling-iup-ihis-iskin-ithat-iway-iinstead.-iYou-icould-inever-ibe-itoo-icareful-iwith-ithings-ilike-ithat.-iIt'd-ibe-ijust-ihis-iluck-ithat-ihe'd-idrink-ithat-iwater,-iand-iend-iup-igetting-iexplosive-idiarrhea-iin-ithe-imiddle-iof-ihis-ifight-iwith-ithe-ignolls.

  After-ifinishing-ilunch,-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-ispent-ithe-ibetter-ipart-iof-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-iday-iwalking,-igetting-igradually-icloser-iand-icloser-ito-ithe-idistant-itree-iline-ion-ithe-ihorizon.-iFinally,-ishortly-ibefore-isundown,-ithey-ireached-ithe-iedge-iof-ithe-iforest,-iwhich-iloomed-idark-iand-iimpressive-iin-ifront-iof-ithem.

  As-ithey-istood-iin-ifront-iof-iit,-isomething-iabout-ithe-ienvironment-iaround-iit-imade-iJames-ifeel-iuneasy,-ialthough-ifor-ithe-ilife-iof-ihim-ihe-icould-inot-ifigure-iout-iwhy.-iIt-iwasn't-ithe-idarkness...-iThere-iwas-isomething-ialmost-iotherwordly-iseeming-ito-iemanate-ifrom-iit.-iIt-iinstinctively-imade-ithe-ihairs-ion-ithe-iback-iof-ihis-ineck-istand-iup.-iWhatever-iwas-iin-ithere,-ithey-ineeded-ito-ibe-ic
areful.-i

  ###-iChapter-i62-i--iThe-iCarved-iCorridor

  The-itwo-ignolls-iled-iEleanor-iinto-ithe-inext-icorridor,-iand-ishe-iwas-istruck-iimmediately-iby-ihow-idifferent-iit-iappeared-ito-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-icave-inetwork-ishe'd-iseen-ithus-ifar.-iInstead-iof-inatural-istone,-ithe-iwalls-iand-iceiling-iwere-iall-iseemingly-icarved-iby-ihand-iinto-ia-iuniform-iheight-iand-ithickness-idown-ithe-ientirety-iof-iits-ilength.

  Rather-ithan-ithe-idim-ior-iscattered-ilights-iof-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-icave-inetwork-iand-ithe-ivillage-ithey'd-ijust-ileft,-ithis-ipassageway-iwas-ibrightly-ilit-iby-istanding-ibraziers-ispaced-iat-iequal-iintervals,-ieach-iof-iwhich-iemitted-ino-ivisible-ismoke-ior-iheat-ithat-ishe-icould-ifeel.-iThey-iwere-iprobably-ithe-iresult-iof-ian-iEverburning-iTorch-ienchantment-ior-isomething-isimilar,-ishe-ifigured.

  Spaced-ievenly-ibetween-ieach-iof-ithe-ibraziers-istood-ianother-ipair-iof-iabnormally-ilarge-ignoll-iguards,-ione-ion-ieach-iside-iof-ithe-icorridor,-iwearing-imatching-ipolished-iplate-imail-iand-icarrying-imatching-ipolearms.-i

  As-ishe-ifollowed-iher-icaptors-idown-ithe-ihall,-ishe-inoticed-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-ithat-ithe-iwalls-iat-ifirst-iappeared-ismooth-iwhen-ishe-iinitially-ientered,-ibut-ias-iyou-iwalked,-ithey-iactually-irevealed-ithemselves-ito-ibe-icovered-iwith-iornate-icarvings,-iall-iof-iwhich-iseemed-ito-idocument-isome-iaspect-iof-ithe-ignoll-itribe's-ihistory.

  The-ifirst-icarving-iappeared-ito-ibe-isome-iform-iof-icreation-imyth,-ishowing-ia-idog-faced-ientity-ilooking-idown-iover-ithe-iworld-iof-iliving-ithings,-iwith-iwings-ithat-itook-iup-ithe-ientire-isky.-iIt-idepicted-ithis-ideity-ihand-picking-ihuman-ibeings-iand-ireshaping-ithem-iinstead-iinto-ihis-iown-iimage,-igiving-ibirth-ito-ithe-ignoll-irace,-iand-ithe-ijoy-ihis-inew-icreations-ifelt-iabout-itheir-inew-iforms.

  This-iwas-ithe-ionly-icarving-ithat-ihad-ia-ipositive-itone.